Definition of Equity Interest

Equity interest refers to an ownership interest in a business entity, and the concept is based on the premise that equity is equal to ownership. Equity interest can mean many things depending on the person holding the equity or the issuing company. Equity interest can mean any of the following:

  1. The partnership interests in a partnership company.
  2. The membership interests in a limited liability company.
  3. The shares or stock interests in a corporation, including the preferred and common stocks of the company.

An example of equity interest is when an investor receives 25 percent ownership of a business, this means that the investor owns 25 percent equity interest in that company.

How do Shareholders Obtain Equity Interest?

Shareholders obtain equity interest when they purchase the shares of stock in a business. Ownership of a corporation's stock makes the shareholder an owner of a part of the business. In other words, you own a part of the business equal to the value of its stock in your holding.

What is Equity Interest Rate?

The equity interest rate refers to the level of motivation a single owner devotes to the business' success. For example, a shareholder who owns 90 percent equity interest in a company will have a higher level of motivation to work towards making the business succeed compared to an owner with only 1 percent equity interest. Ownership in a business is often used as an indicator of motivation as the majority of founders cannot lead their business to grow.

What is Equity Interest Rate Swap?

An equity interest rate swap is a financial strategy aimed at reducing the risk and uncertainties of doing business. It is an agreement between two businesses in which the two parties sign an agreement to share the future success of both enterprises, measured in cash flows. In an equity interest rate swap, the first business that becomes financially successful pays the other a portion of their cash flows and vice versa.

What is a Shareholder?

A shareholder refers to an individual who owns shares of stock in a business entity.

What is a Share?

A share of stock in a company refers to a fractional ownership interest in a business entity which can be placed privately or sold publicly through an offering.

How do You Obtain an Ownership Interest?

You obtain an ownership interest in a company when you buy shares of stock in the company. The number of shares you buy relative to the total number of outstanding shares will determine your ownership interest in the company. For example, if you buy 1000 shares out of a company's 100,000 outstanding shares of stock, your ownership interest in the company is 1 percent.

Types of Shares

There are two main types of shares, including the common shares and preferred shares.

What is a Common Stock?

Common stock is the type of stock that are generally sold on stock exchanges, with price and dividend payments that changes according to market forces and other success factors. Owning a share of stock gives the shareholder proportional ownership of the business, its success, and failure. It also gives the shareholder voting rights to choose the board of directors of the company, but no powers over the running of the company. The value of common shares depends on how well a company performs.

What is a Preferred Stock?

A preferred stock refers to an equity interest with a fixed dividend value for life. Unlike common stocks whose value depends on the profitability of the company, the price of preferred stocks depends on the credit rating or financial status of the business as well as the dividend amount.

What is Equity?

Equity means worth or value, and it can also mean ownership. Owner's equity refers to the balance of deducting the amount of money a business owner has drawn out of the company from his/her investment in the business.

How to Increase Owner's Equity

The only way to increase owners' equity is to either increase investment in the business or grow the profits of the business.
